The Late Late Show

homer911

Anyone following the discussion about Catholic Schools on the Late Late??

"If you don't like the rules, don't join the club..."

alex73

As a catholic who pays taxes i expect to have a school with a catholic ethos paid by the state, my protestant friend want the same.

Keaton

I thought the programme was quite balanced - not the usual RTE anti-Catholic bashing I was expecting.

The challenge for the State authorities is to provide the kind of education that parents desire for their children if they are unhappy with a Catholic school. The Church needs to ensure that Catholic schools, faithful to the Magisterium, are available, not only to wealthy parents, but to all who desire an authentic Catholic education for their children. What we don't need is a 'grey solution' - an irreligious state school system at which all children are forced to attend. Parental choice must be respected - and that includes the right of Catholic parents to have a truly Catholic education and not one that is watered down to appease those who dislike Catholicism and want nothing to do with it.

PauloMN

Yep. Don't normally get annoyed about these discussions, but some of those people got on my nerves. If you feel so strongly about the tiny bit of "religion" that kids would get in a Catholic primary school, don't send them there - period.

I totally agree there should be more non-denominational schools to reflect the general demographics of the country as it is now - however watering down the ethos of a Catholic school just to accommodate the parents who don't want any religion taught to their kids (but still send them to a Catholic school) is totally unacceptable imo.

If you feel that strongly about religion and do not want your kids anywhere near it, simply do not send your kids to a Catholic (or any church run) school. Either drive them to the nearest Educate Together, or educate them at home as is your right.

In my opinion, those parents have done their kids a lot more damage by putting them in schools only to take them out a few months later, than the teaching of any "religion" would have done them.

And then you see parents like those after that piece who have struggled with real problems - dreadful illness, their daughter passing and their son fighting the same illness. It put some perspective on the previous discussions.

strobe

homer911 wrote: »

"If you don't like the rules, don't join the club..."

Just in, didn't see it. Out of interest, are you opposed to, or supportive of, the quote above, Homer?

dvpower

PauloMN wrote: »

Yep. Don't normally get annoyed about these discussions, but some of those people got on my nerves. If you feel so strongly about the tiny bit of "religion" that kids would get in a Catholic primary school, don't send them there - period.

Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin wrote:

A Catholic school must however have a defined Catholic ethos which should be verifiable in all its aspects. If that is not the case, then the specific advantage and reason for having a Catholic school will cease. Catholic ethos must be the integrating factor for all aspects of the life of the Catholic school.

.

PauloMN

dvpower wrote: »

.

Not sure what your point is there, but the people who were on the show seemed mainly to be concerned about the teaching of religion in the school rather than the general Catholic ethos of the school. They were wanting their kids excluded from religion classes, but didn't seem to have an issue with them being Catholic schools aside from the religion classes.

The general ethos of a Catholic school outside of religion class, First Holy Communion preparation and prayers is the same as other non-Catholic schools I would imagine and is about respect for fellow pupils, teachers, property etc. i.e. general guidance that not only fits in with a Catholic way of life but fits in with the way the vast majority of people in western society live. Just because a Catholic school will collectively call all of that a Catholic ethos does not mean that other schools don't share most of the same principles.

amiable

First off i didn't see the Late Late last night.

But what do parents do that the only school near them is a Catholic school?

gimmebroadband

amiable wrote: »

First off i didn't see the Late Late last night.

But what do parents do that the only school near them is a Catholic school?

As was pointed out already, you can excuse them from those particular classes. Religious education is miniscule compared to the rest of the curriculum!

homer911

strobe wrote: »

Just in, didn't see it. Out of interest, are you opposed to, or supportive of, the quote above, Homer?

I'm in the fortunate (planned!) situation of living near primary and seconday schools with an ethos that I would support, so for me, its not an issue. However, if I didn't, I would have to accept the ethos of the school in which I placed my child - probably balancing it with some more home education, and definitely with regular church attendance in our own preferred denomination (which my kids have anyway). I could be wrong, but this seems to be more of an issue for those of non-Christian faith or no faith. I groan when I hear these parents talking about wanting their children to be educated in all faiths, and yet have no faith of their own.

I appreciate there is a place for secular education, but even secular schools have an ethos. The current situation in Ireland is due to the fact that education has traditionally been linked to the church, predominantly Roman Catholic. With fewer and fewer numbers actively participating in the Catholic Church (despite probably calling themselves Catholic), this is an issue which is not going to go away - but as Catholics raised the money to build many of these schools, I cant see the situation changing any time soon.

As an aside, the Anglican primary school my children attended had a signicant RC group and the school supported Catholic Priests coming in to give Holy Communion lessons

PauloMN

amiable wrote: »

First off i didn't see the Late Late last night.

But what do parents do that the only school near them is a Catholic school?

Four choices:

1) Enroll them in the Catholic school and accept the religious aspects of that school and the school's general ethos. This works for the vast majority of non-Catholics in Catholic schools.
2) If #1 is not acceptable, enroll them in the nearest school which has a religion/ethos acceptable to you, and accept that it might entail long journeys.
3) Try to start up an Educate Together for their area with other like-minded parents.
4) Educate the child at home.

We absolutely need more non-denominational schools to reflect modern Ireland, and this is beginning to happen now and will continue over the next number of years. But in the meantime we are where we are - most schools are church run - and I think it is grossly unfair of parents who do not want any religious education whatsoever to send their kids to a Catholic school, and expect teachers and principals to try and accommodate those kids separately while all the others get on with classes.

The only mistake that those schools made in the first place was trying to accommodate parents who were so against the teaching of religion that they should never have sent the kids to a Catholic school in the first place. They should have been told clearly from the start that the school is a Catholic school and all children are expected to follow the cirriculum - while children from all backgrounds are welcome, the school cannot be having to accomodate children that won't partake in core subjects purely because of parental beliefs that are at odds with that of the school. Hopefully when the balance of church and non-church schools becomes more at one with demographics, we can have a mix of schools to suit everyone, and not have these situations arising again.

Poly

Did anyone else think the "debate" was pre-recorded?

UB Dude

The Late Late Show was not even-handed in this debate, and while I wouldn’t be a fan of conservative RC’ism I did feel the stories selected were not typical and tended to give the impression that Ireland is still under the cosh of a militant, religiously conservative RC’ism. The people and their situations were not typical. It’s safe to say they ran afoul of School Principles of questionable character – the nutty variety. Not all principles or schools are like that and certainly not all teachers are so hardcore. My experience with Irish teachers is that they feel it should not be their responsibility to provide religious education to children, they feel – almost universally, such responsibility rests with - or at least should rest with - the parents. It is interesting that a Muslim should find the Roman Catholic approach quite so objectionable given the standing that Christian communities have within cultures dominated by the Muslim faith. I would’ve liked to see Ryan ask the foreign nationals how the educational and religious needs of immigrants are met in their own countries.
Irish teachers are expected to given 30 minutes of unpaid religious instruction each day, time denied to the kids of taxpayers by the RC church. What could be a more serious issue for this country is that given that more than 95% of school are dominated by the RC church, are individuals of different faiths precluded from teaching in their schools? Technically speaking once a person secures the diploma in RE they should be entitled but I have my doubts they’d be allowed and this becomes an equality issue.
I’ve experienced hardcore conservative religious educators and found their attitude to other faiths shocking. I knew one school chaplain. In her school there were children of many different faiths. I asked if she used this fact as an opportunity to explore the other traditions, celebrate their major religious holidays, explore the tenets of their faith, share the fun elements of the ‘alien’ traditions. Her response was a flat, ‘No.’ I asked if she addressed or in some way facilitated the different spiritual exigencies the kids might face re. things like Ramadan or whatever; her response was, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘It’s a catholic school, I’m not paid to attend to their spiritual needs,’ though her turn of phrase wasn’t quite so friendly! Consequently, these kids were essentially locked out of the pastoral support system of the school. I doubt this attitude is in keeping with the spirit of the Master’s teachings. It’s tragic to see individuals follow the letter so successfully and so completely fail to follow the spirit.
I was raised in a Catholic country, had Catholic parents, was taught in a Catholic school, a situation shared by all, with few exceptions, my friends – none of whom would regard themselves today as Catholic. For them it was simply a culture they were raised in. While I do understand that folks do have objections to their children being exposed to ‘Catholicism’ – you’d swear it was some kind of disease they could pick up from the school, they should recognise that they themselves are forcing their children to adopt a belief system {that of the parents} that is not their own and which, in the passing of time, may well come to reject and resent. Kids, eh?!
Kids should be instructed in the faith tradition of their parents by their parents but if they are to truly evolve their own perspective on religion they should be exposed to all kinds of systems, both theistic and atheistic. Secular schools however, should provide insight in all the faiths in the land – or at least the major traditions, only religious conservatives would object to this.

Manach

Schools policy has been and continues to be a major social issue both here, UK, and US. For instance the latest UK Government initiative is the "Free School" Free_school(England)
This would allow like minded educationists, (parent, teachers etc) to set up their own local established and receive the same leveling of funding as state schools.

Knight who says Meh

Personally I was heartened by the large show of hands when Ryan asked how many people consider themselves to be catholics. So many good people who have never used contraception, never had pre marital sex and who believe 100% in transubstantiation.
Wonderful

Mister Vesuvius

I found the whole "debate" disgusting. How can the teaching of quasi-mysticism be compatible with any educational ethos in the modern world? Whatever my opinions are on what kind of fairy tales you want to tell your children, I don't have the right to stop you. However, it can't happen in publicly funded schools, not in my name. My toes curled in embarrassment for the whole country when the zealot in the audience resorted to the "how long were we not allowed to have Catholic schools?"
Men rising from the dead; a virgin woman giving birth; matter rearranging itself on request for magicians: this is delusion. I don't care what you pretend to have faith in, but my children shouldn't have their minds poisoned by this bilge. There is no freedom to move one's children to a different school in Ireland. Those schools simply aren't there. A show of hands at a Late Late Show audience is not exactly a cross-section of Irish society. It would have been in interesting if Ryan had said "keep your hand up if you believe that the wine and bread are LITERALLY AND NOT SYMBOLICALLY turned into the blood and flesh of a 1st Century Jew." If you don't believe this you are not a Catholic. It is the definitive Catholic belief in magic. If zealot parents do not believe this then the argument is one of simple bigotry, not faith or fear of a supernatural maker.
In any case, the solution has to be a secular education system. There is no argument against this that can hold water. Morality and civility are man-made, just like gods.

Cybercelesta

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

I found the whole "debate" disgusting. How can the teaching of quasi-mysticism be compatible with any educational ethos in the modern world? Whatever my opinions are on what kind of fairy tales you want to tell your children, I don't have the right to stop you. However, it can't happen in publicly funded schools, not in my name. My toes curled in embarrassment for the whole country when the zealot in the audience resorted to the "how long were we not allowed to have Catholic schools?"
Men rising from the dead; a virgin woman giving birth; matter rearranging itself on request for magicians: this is delusion. I don't care what you pretend to have faith in, but my children shouldn't have their minds poisoned by this bilge. There is no freedom to move one's children to a different school in Ireland. Those schools simply aren't there. A show of hands at a Late Late Show audience is not exactly a cross-section of Irish society. It would have been in interesting if Ryan had said "keep your hand up if you believe that the wine and bread are LITERALLY AND NOT SYMBOLICALLY turned into the blood and flesh of a 1st Century Jew." If you don't believe this you are not a Catholic. It is the definitive Catholic belief in magic. If zealot parents do not believe this then the argument is one of simple bigotry, not faith or fear of a supernatural maker.
In any case, the solution has to be a secular education system. There is no argument against this that can hold water. Morality and civility are man-made, just like gods.

It may seem like fairytales to you sir, but not to those who of us who are believers. We have the right to profess our faith, and put it into practice - do you deny us that right???

There are many Eucharistic Miracles that have confirmed what catholics have believed was true all along, and which have been studied by science.

Here is one such miracle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMKiznugP18

Mister Vesuvius

Show me the evidence for a specifically Christian miracle, just one. Show me the proof of an instance where the god interfered with the nature of the real world. I strongly suspect that you misunderstand the idea of science. No one is saying that religious freedom should be curtailed, only that freedom from religion should be curtailed. Go to your mosques, temples, churches, reading groups, Jesus-hours, have a blast! Stay away from the education of my children.

dvpower

A miracle in 750AD that was studied by science!! That's almost miraculous in itself.

PauloMN

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

I found the whole "debate" disgusting. How can the teaching of quasi-mysticism be compatible with any educational ethos in the modern world? Whatever my opinions are on what kind of fairy tales you want to tell your children, I don't have the right to stop you. However, it can't happen in publicly funded schools, not in my name. My toes curled in embarrassment for the whole country when the zealot in the audience resorted to the "how long were we not allowed to have Catholic schools?"
Men rising from the dead; a virgin woman giving birth; matter rearranging itself on request for magicians: this is delusion. I don't care what you pretend to have faith in, but my children shouldn't have their minds poisoned by this bilge. There is no freedom to move one's children to a different school in Ireland. Those schools simply aren't there. A show of hands at a Late Late Show audience is not exactly a cross-section of Irish society. It would have been in interesting if Ryan had said "keep your hand up if you believe that the wine and bread are LITERALLY AND NOT SYMBOLICALLY turned into the blood and flesh of a 1st Century Jew." If you don't believe this you are not a Catholic. It is the definitive Catholic belief in magic. If zealot parents do not believe this then the argument is one of simple bigotry, not faith or fear of a supernatural maker.
In any case, the solution has to be a secular education system. There is no argument against this that can hold water. Morality and civility are man-made, just like gods.

If you feel that stongly about it, educate your kids at home - it is your constitutional right. Going on your obvious and complete lack of tolerance for any sort of religion, it would probably be best.

Cybercelesta

dvpower wrote: »

A miracle in 750AD that was studied by science!! That's almost miraculous in itself.

It's still flesh and blood, and has been studied by scientists in the last few decades.

http://www.michaeljournal.org/eucharist3.htm

Cybercelesta

PauloMN wrote: »

If you feel that stongly about it, educate your kids at home - it is your constitutional right. Going on your obvious and complete lack of tolerance for any sort of religion, it would probably be best.

My taxes help to run said schools, and I have a right to use them, and you will find that most attendees are christians!!

PDN

PauloMN wrote: »

If you feel that strongly about religion and do not want your kids anywhere near it, simply do not send your kids to a Catholic (or any church run) school. Either drive them to the nearest Educate Together, or educate them at home as is your right.

And in the meanwhile still be expected to stump up the tax money that subsdises the indoctrination of children into your religion?

Paparazzo

Can someone seriously explain what this catholic "ethos" is that everyone talks about? OK, they have a religion class every day in primary, and probably 3 times a week in secondary. But beyond that, what's the ethos? Is it purely the communion, confession and confirmation?
Did anyone actually take these serious as kids? I was in 2 catholic schools and no one actually knew what communion or confirmation really was.

amiable

Knight who says Meh wrote: »

Personally I was heartened by the large show of hands when Ryan asked how many people consider themselves to be catholics. So many good people who have never used contraception, never had pre marital sex and who believe 100% in transubstantiation.
Wonderful

Well the demographic of the Late Late would influence that and the fact that the people were on live TV.

Mister Vesuvius

PauloMN wrote: »

If you feel that stongly about it, educate your kids at home - it is your constitutional right. Going on your obvious and complete lack of tolerance for any sort of religion, it would probably be best.

That's very constructive. You're an exemplary satirist.

PauloMN

Cybercelesta wrote: »

My taxes help to run said schools, and I have a right to use them, and you will find that most attendees are christians!!

I think you misunderstood my post, it was aimed at Mister Vesuvius.

Mister Vesuvius

Cybercelesta wrote: »

It may seem like fairytales to you sir, but not to those who of us who are believers. We have the right to profess our faith, and put it into practice - do you deny us that right???

There are many Eucharistic Miracles that have confirmed what catholics have believed was true all along, and which have been studied by science.

Here is one such miracle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMKiznugP18

There is no higher council of the WHO. Even if the tissue, collected in nothing resembling a controlled environment, defies biological/chemical theory, how is this a miracle?

Ghost Buster

PauloMN wrote: »

If you feel that stongly about it, educate your kids at home - it is your constitutional right. Going on your obvious and complete lack of tolerance for any sort of religion, it would probably be best.

I think you have that back ways. Teach yiour kids astrology, tea leaf reading, chakra clensing, astral projection and any other superstition you may hold dear at home and leave school time for education in things that definitely exist.

PauloMN

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

That's very constructive. You're an exemplary satirist.

What part of my post do you have a problem with? I think it's a good solution for someone who detests any form of religion so much.

PauloMN

Ghost Buster wrote: »

I think you have that back ways. Teach yiour kids astrology, tea leaf reading, chakra clensing, astral projection and any other superstition you may hold dear at home and leave school time for education in things that definitely exist.

Just putting it out there as an option. People do school their kids at home, whether you want to go that route is your own business.

Mister Vesuvius

PauloMN wrote: »

What part of my post do you have a problem with? I think it's a good solution for someone who detests any form of religion so much.

Would not a better solution be to accommodate everyone and separate indoctrination in religious faith from education?

Paparazzo

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

Would not a better solution be to accomodate everyone and separate indoctrination in religious faith from education?

I'm surprised even christians don't agree with this one. No religion in schools and if you want your child to be brought up catholic, take them to sunday school.

dvpower

Cybercelesta wrote: »

It's still flesh and blood, and has been studied by scientists in the last few decades.

http://www.michaeljournal.org/eucharist3.htm

Some bread is said to have turned into the flesh of Jesus and wine turned into his blood 12 centuries ago. Fast forward 1200 years and an analysis of some substance (said to be the same stuff) is confirmed as human flesh and blood.

Well, there is only one conclusion that can come from that: Its time to clone Jesus

Ghost Buster

Paparazzo wrote: »

I'm surprised even christians don't agree with this one. No religion in schools and if you want your child to be brought up catholic, take them to sunday school.

But with this you need to consider the avearagE free wheeling Irish Catholic. This would require effort, actual knowledge of your religion and ones own input.
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!

Cybercelesta

dvpower wrote: »

Some bread is said to have turned into the flesh of Jesus and wine turned into his blood 12 centuries ago. Fast forward 1200 years and an analysis of some substance (said to be the same stuff) is confirmed as human flesh and blood.

Well, there is only one conclusion that can come from that: Its time to clone Jesus

A recent one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbg_dhI4XCs

PDN

Paparazzo wrote: »

I'm surprised even christians don't agree with this one. No religion in schools and if you want your child to be brought up catholic, take them to sunday school.

Many Christians do agree. I had to pay to educate my daughter privately because I didn't want her subjected to indoctrination by the Catholic Church. That should not have been necessary in a Western European democracy.

PauloMN

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

Would not a better solution be to accommodate everyone and separate indoctrination in religious faith from education?

That doesn't accommodate everyone though, that's the point.

The solution is to bring in a proportional number of non-denominational schools for those who want them, and that is what is starting to happen.

Many people, myself included, are more than happy with the education that our kids are getting in Catholic schools, and want their schools to continue in that way.

dvpower

Cybercelesta wrote: »

A recent one!

I'm still trying to grapple with the first one.

Apparently the 'chief Advisory Board of the World Health Organization' did a major investigation (500 tests taking 15 months).

Also the "Medical Commission of the WHO and the UN" in 1976 declared that "science, aware of its limits, has come to a halt, face to face with the impossibility of giving an explanation."

I've been trying to track down the source material on the WHO and the UN websites, but I can't find it yet. The internet is packed full of these claims (verbatim), but I can't find any claim that links to any source material.

Mister Vesuvius

Cybercelesta wrote: »

A recent one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbg_dhI4XCs

Recent. That is somewhat of a relative term. It happened recently, but in Buenos Aires. Maybe there is some unexplained phenomenon going on there or not. I read up about your last video post to poke holes in it but it was not worth my time. I will say this, though. What is more likely, that the laws of nature were suspended in the favour of these Catholics in order for this to happen or that it is a man-made hoax/mass delusion?
It is not up to me to disprove anything. If you want me to believe you, you have to present convincing proof. If scientific academia is aware of these alleged miracles, why do they not declare your specific branch of mock-Judaism the one true religion?

dvpower

PauloMN wrote: »

That doesn't accommodate everyone though, that's the point.

The solution is to bring in a proportional number of non-denominational schools for those who want them, and that is what is starting to happen.

Many people, myself included, are more than happy with the education that our kids are getting in Catholic schools, and want their schools to continue in that way.

That's a lopsided solution. Catholic schools for catholics. Everyone else gets non denominational schools? Why the special treatment for catholics? And why do you want catholics to be educated separately from everyone else?

Mister Vesuvius

PauloMN wrote: »

That doesn't accommodate everyone though, that's the point.

The solution is to bring in a proportional number of non-denominational schools for those who want them, and that is what is starting to happen.

Many people, myself included, are more than happy with the education that our kids are getting in Catholic schools, and want their schools to continue in that way.

I would make that compromise on the condition that I would not be unduly inconvenienced. The logistics of the situation are such that Catholic schools would have to be surrendered to the godless and apostates anyway.

PDN

dvpower wrote: »

That's a lopsided solution. Catholic schools for catholics. Everyone else gets non denominational schools? Why the special treatment for catholics? And why do you want catholics to be educated separately from everyone else?

Theologically (if not educationally or sociologically) it makes a sort of sense. Most other denominations see themselves, together with others, as part of the larger Christian Church. Roman Catholics see themselves as the one true Christian Church.

However, theology is not the basis upon which a nation's educational policy should be based.

PDN

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

Recent. That is somewhat of a relative term. It happened recently, but in Buenos Aires. Maybe there is some unexplained phenomenon going on there or not. I read up about your last video post to poke holes in it but it was not worth my time. I will say this, though. What is more likely, that the laws of nature were suspended in the favour of these Catholics in order for this to happen or that it is a man-made hoax/mass delusion?
It is not up to me to disprove anything. If you want me to believe you, you have to present convincing proof. If scientific academia is aware of these alleged miracles, why do they not declare your specific branch of mock-Judaism the one true religion?

Ok everybody - let's please keep this thread on the topic of educational policy.

Mister Vesuvius

Ok everybody - let's please keep this thread on the topic of educational policy.
[/QUOTE]
Granted. At some stage, though, the discussion will always come down to its foundation: belief. I see a place in the dialogue for objectively pointing out the nature of the Catholic polytheism and its danger to children's minds.
As you are moderating the discussion, I will respectfully refrain from pointing out the tragically obvious.

PauloMN

dvpower wrote: »

That's a lopsided solution. Catholic schools for catholics. Everyone else gets non denominational schools? Why the special treatment for catholics? And why do you want catholics to be educated separately from everyone else?

I never said that. If any other religious group wants to start up a school, I've absolutely no issue with that. We just happen to live in a country that was up to very recently 90+% RC. That's changing now, and I've no problem whatsoever with new schools being setup - religious or otherwise, or existing schools moving out of the church umbrella once it's all done fairly and with due concern for those who do want to keep their kids in a RC school as well as those who do not.

The fact of the matter is that at the moment, most people who are looking for non-Catholic schools are looking towards the Educate Together model.

PauloMN

Mister Vesuvius wrote: »

Ok everybody - let's please keep this thread on the topic of educational policy.

Granted. At some stage, though, the discussion will always come down to its foundation: belief. I see a place in the dialogue for objectively pointing out the nature of the Catholic polytheism and its danger to children's minds.
As you are moderating the discussion, I will respectfully refrain from pointing out the tragically obvious.

It's incredible the lack of tolerance you have for other peoples' beliefs, and how you mock them.

dvpower

PDN wrote: »

Theologically (if not educationally or sociologically) it makes a sort of sense. Most other denominations see themselves, together with others, as part of the larger Christian Church. Roman Catholics see themselves as the one true Christian Church.

However, theology is not the basis upon which a nation's educational policy should be based.

I was thinking more of other non Christians, who might want a separate state provided system for their religions.

Anyway, I think its pretty sad that people want to be educated separately. I want my children to go to the same school as their friends (of various religions and none) and have an opportunity to make friends with other children (of varying religions and none).

Mister Vesuvius

PauloMN wrote: »

I never said that. If any other religious group wants to start up a school, I've absolutely no issue with that. We just happen to live in a country that was up to very recently 90+% RC. That's changing now, and I've no problem whatsoever with new schools being setup - religious or otherwise, or existing schools moving out of the church umbrella once it's all done fairly and with due concern for those who do want to keep their kids in a RC school as well as those who do not.

The fact of the matter is that at the moment, most people who are looking for non-Catholic schools are looking towards the Educate Together model.

In a religious sense, what is it that you want your children taught? I ask because I would like to understand the resistance to separating religion from education or the opinion that they are not mutually exclusive.

Mister Vesuvius

PauloMN wrote: »

It's incredible the lack of tolerance you have for other peoples' beliefs, and how you mock them.

"Incredible", I like that word. Answer my question.

dvpower

PauloMN wrote: »

I never said that. If any other religious group wants to start up a school, I've absolutely no issue with that. We just happen to live in a country that was up to very recently 90+% RC. That's changing now, and I've no problem whatsoever with new schools being setup - religious or otherwise, or existing schools moving out of the church umbrella once it's all done fairly and with due concern for those who do want to keep their kids in a RC school as well as those who do not.

I'm not a mind reader. I can only go by what you wrote:
"The solution is to bring in a proportional number of non-denominational schools for those who want them, and that is what is starting to happen."

But funding the schools of other religious groups doesn't seem to be to be a workable solution. Anywhere outside of the major urban areas it would mean lots of tiny schools catering for just a handful of children or people travelling long journeys every day to get to and from school.

PauloMN wrote: »

The fact of the matter is that at the moment, most people who are looking for non-Catholic schools are looking towards the Educate Together model.

They are because that is the other model out there. I think its a really bad idea personally. I want my kids to go to school with their Catholic friends. Sectarian education is a really bad idea imo.